Great weather, live entertainment draw large crowds to Ribfest
Aside from the live entertainment and plenty of rib vendors, the weekend's sunny weather was pivotal in the success of the 28th annual Ribfest in Naperville, event organizers said.
"People think I made a deal with the devil to get this weather," said Ribfest Chairman Bob Pschirrer of the warm weekend - a welcome departure from summer's rainy start.
Pschirrer said he estimates an attendance of about 150,000 people for all four days of the festival in Knoch Park.
Sunday marked the last day and offered some of Ribfest's most popular features, including rib vendors, a carnival, sponsor tents, a family area and live music throughout the day capped by headliner The Band Perry.
"We've got the biggest stage we've ever had at Ribfest, and when (The Band Perry) found that out, they decided to bring all their gear," Pschirrer said. "That's probably the highlight of the entire event, in my opinion."
Festival attendance is largely based on the entertainment, Pschirrer said. Friday night's headliner, Sammy Hager, was a hit, he said, and the fireworks on July 4 brought in nearly 40,000 people.
Four-year-old Harley Barrett of Oak Park, however, was at Ribfest for reasons other than the live bands. The carnival, the bouncy houses in the family area and the ice cream drew her to the festival, said her mother, Shelane Barrett.
"She woke up (Sunday) morning and said she wanted to go to a carnival," Shelane Barrett said. "So here we are."
The family area was also a plus for 9-year-old Lauren Donahue of Downers Grove, who took repeated rides on the mechanical bull, along with her brothers, Ben, 12, and Matthew, 6.
"It was fun," she said. "It was hard to stay on."
Parents Don and Dana Donahue said they brought the family out that afternoon to watch friends perform in the band Derringer and Rye at the Navistar Main Stage. Ribfest was a first for the Donahue family, Don said, but they enjoyed taking advantage of the nice weather.
The Verweij family made their second Ribfest appearance this year. The Verweijs are from the Netherlands but have lived in Aurora for the past few years. Peter and Anna Marie Verweij said this is their last chance to bring their sons, Roan, 10, and Abel, 6, because the family is returning home soon.
"There are festivals back in the Netherlands, but nothing like this," Peter Verweij said. "This is a typical American festival. It's something totally different."
Although Roan Verweij said he liked the carnival rides and the bouncy houses, he most looked forward to eating the ribs.
"The kids have a lot of fun," Peter Verweij said. "That's the most important thing for me."